新视野大学英语 读写教程第一册 unit5-c

Section C

International Joint¹ Efforts Against AIDS

The uniting of the world around the AIDS epidemic² is without prior³ example. As the number of AIDS cases around the world rapidly increases, nations are showing great focus in battling this common enemy — attacking rich and poor countries the same.
By 1989, almost every nation on earth had established a program educating its people about AIDS, according to Jonathan Mann, director of the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Program on AIDS. At that time, 143 countries had reported one or more AIDS cases.
In addition to national AIDS programs, working together internationally has begun. Through open exchanges of scientific facts as well as support of international organizations such as the World Health Organization, all nations can join efforts to fight against this life-threatening disease⁴. According to WHO, this international effort has produced two critical developments: first, there is an amazing level of world-wide focus, using world scientists and international sharing of human and economic resources to fight AIDS. Second, the work of governments, organizations, and businesses has been followed by the very high activity of people — as singles, families, and communities.
The Influence of AIDS
The rise of Acquired immune⁵ deficiency⁶ syndrome⁷ (AIDS) around the earth has represented a major challenge to medical progress both in developed and in less-developed countries. The past forty years saw great success in the control of spreading diseases⁸ and great strides⁹ toward¹⁰ achieving "health for all by the year 2000" (a major WHO goal) through improved basic health care, food, cleanliness, and immunization（免疫）programs.
Yet, because of its sudden start and rapid spread, AIDS could soon wipe out this progress. By the end of 1988, more than 130,000 cases of AIDS were reported, but, because of underreporting, there may actually be more than 350,000 cases. Also, at least five million persons likely have the human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)（艾滋病病毒）, which causes AIDS. That means as many as 400,000 new cases of AIDS could occur in the next few years — more than doubling the present total. Caring for AIDS patients could seriously stress economic resources even in richer countries.
Preventing one case of AIDS means preventing many future cases, while preventing a case of measles（麻疹）or malaria（疟疾）in Africa would have little effect on its spreading, since those diseases are already common in many countries. Resources devoted¹¹ to AIDS testing, care, and education could also be used to battle other, more-known diseases in developing countries.
Stopping the Spread
AIDS spreads only in limited ways and can be prevented through informed and mature behavior. Encouraging such behavior depends on understanding the different ways AIDS is spread around the world. AIDS spreads in three basic ways: first, through sexual¹² intercourse（性交）; second, through contact with diseased blood; and third from an HIV mother to her baby. The actual patterns of spreading of the AIDS virus change from culture to culture.
Spreading of AIDS in North America, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Latin¹³ America occurs most often among homosexual（同性恋）or bisexual（双性恋）men and intravenous (IV) （静脉内注射的）drug users¹⁴（吸毒者）, most often in city areas. Heterosexual（异性之间的）spreading is low, but there is danger that the spread of AIDS from male(男性) IV-drug users to their female（女性）partners could increase the appearance of AIDS in the heterosexual population.
In sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, particularly the Caribbean, most cases occur among heterosexuals, and spreading from mother-to-child is common. Spreading through homosexual contact and IV-drug use almost does not exist.
In Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, the eastern Mediterranean¹⁵, Asia, and most of the Pacific, fewer cases of AIDS, usually among drug users, have been reported thus far. The WHO estimates¹⁶ that Bangkok, Thailand IV-drug users having the AIDS virus increased from less than 1 percent in August 1987 to 30 percent one year later.
Reaching Out
The WHO believes that, as AIDS becomes more common, the disease promises to unite the world to a degree never seen before. In just two years, the international plan against AIDS has grown from ideas to practice, from speeches to action. The WHO is certain that, together, we will triumph¹⁷ over AIDS rather than allow the disease and the fears, worries, and prejudices（偏见）which go with it to overpower us.

Words: 697

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

3 prior   

adj.更重要的，较早的，在先的；adv.居先；n.小修道院院长；大修道院副院长

参考例句：

• The duty to protect my sister is prior to all others.保护我的妹妹是我最重要的责任。
• I took up one-year prior course in German in this college.我在这所大学读了一年的德语预科。

4 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

5 immune   

adj.免疫的，有免疫力的，不受影响的，免除的

参考例句：

• I am immune from the disease,for I had it once.我对这病有免疫力，因为我已得过一次了。
• Be immune from corruption.拒腐蚀，永不沾。

6 deficiency   

n.缺乏，不足，缺点，缺陷

参考例句：

• During the war children suffered from a deficiency of food.战争期间孩子们遭受缺乏食物之苦。
• Fortunately,color deficiency is not a serious medical problem.幸运的是，色盲并不是一种严重的医学问题。

7 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

8 diseases   

n.疾病( disease的名词复数 )；弊端；恶疾；痼疾

参考例句：

• Smoking is a causative factor in several major diseases. 抽烟是引起几种严重疾病的病因。
• The illness frequently coexists with other chronic diseases. 这种病往往与其他慢性病同时存在。

9 strides   

裤子； 大步( stride的名词复数 )； 步法； 步态； 进展

参考例句：

• The child could not keep up with his father's strides. 那个孩子跟不上他父亲的步子。
• That 70-year-old man walked into the park with vigorous strides. 那位七旬老人健步走进公园。

10 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

11 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

12 sexual   

adj.性的，两性的，性别的

参考例句：

• He was a person of gross sexual appetites.他是个性欲旺盛的人。
• It is socially irresponsible to refuse young people advice on sexual matters.拒绝向年轻人提供性方面的建议是对社会不负责任。

13 Latin   

adj.拉丁的，拉丁语的，拉丁人的；n.拉丁语

参考例句：

• She learned Latin without a master.她无师自通学会了拉丁语。
• Please use only Latin characters.请仅使用拉丁文字符。

14 users   

用户，使用者( user的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new software will prove a boon to Internet users. 这种新软件将会对互联网用户大有益处。
• Ramps should be provided for wheelchair users. 应该给轮椅使用者提供坡道。

15 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

16 estimates   

估计

参考例句：

• Unofficial estimates put the figure at over two million. 非官方的估计数字为200万以上。
• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 triumph   

n.胜利，成功；vi.获胜，成功；击败

参考例句：

• The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。
• I could detect no triumph in his eye.我不能在他的眼里看出胜利的喜悦。